USAID Supports Local Efforts to Clean Ghzayyel River
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Saturday and Sunday supported the clean-up of the Ghzayyel River, organized and supervised by Operation Big Blue Association.
The Ghzayyel River’s upstream course has clear waters, but the banks and river bed are littered with trash.
Local residents and volunteers from the nearby communities of Anjar, Kfar Zabad and Bar Elias participated in the clean-up of the Litani River tributary with help of their municipalities, Bank Med, the Litani River Authority, the Lebanese Red Cross, and the Lebanese Army.
The current levels of pollution and contamination in the river damage the environment and ecology of the river, and have a direct negative impact on public health through drinking water, crop production, and direct contact.
The clean-up covered the river’s two springs in Anjar and Shamsine, and its upstream course.
This two-day activity involved the collection of hundreds of trash bags from the river banks and riverbed with boats and kayaks, provided lectures and discussions about river pollution and river environment, and raised awareness among residents on the ecological and economic value of a river.
The activity was concluded with a ceremony recognizing the efforts of all volunteers and sponsors.
This is part of USAID’s Litani River Basin Management System program to raise awareness about pollution at Litani River and promote for local efforts to preserve its resources.
USAID began water assistance programming in 2002 and currently has a $62.8 million budget spread over several projects involved in safeguarding and preserving Lebanon’s waterways.
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